We are honored and delighted to present to our readers the first special issue of the new open-access scientific journal entitled “Exploration of Cardiology”. We strongly believe that it will become a special forum for sharing knowledge, data, and hypotheses concerning contemporary, significant as well as emerging aspects of both experimental and clinical cardiology.

The aim of our journal is not only to assist researchers and clinicians in propagating new results of original, valuable studies but also to share clinical experiences from the frontline of the battle for patients’ health optimization in a wide spectrum of diseases that aim at common targets of the cardiovascular system. In order not to stop at just presenting new findings in original papers and case reports we will encourage also wider and deeper discussion of pathophysiology and possibilities of its modification and treatment within the framework of our review articles.

This newly launched special issue of EC journal provides insight into contemporary infectious conditions that plague the global society such as the most recent COVID-19 pandemia awaiting thorough examination of its long thrombotic tail, as well as variegated cardiovascular HIV/AIDS complications, which, in our period of dynamically improving treatment of the underlying infection has become main players in these patients. Similarly, the current large-scale social problem is related to the overuse of alcohol, which in many regions of our planet is still increasing and affecting yet younger and more vulnerable persons. The question is whether some its antiatherosclerosis actions may overcome the strong proarrhythmic and widespread cytotoxic effect of this ancient but double-edged ingredient of the human diet. The proarrhythmic actions have returned in this issue in the aspect of the common but still mysterious mitral valve prolapse and also in one of the most prevalent genetic-based disorders, namely hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In the pursuit of a solution, we focused on the underused diagnostic potential of noninvasive assessment of coronary flow reserve, and in the final attempt to establish optimal treatment, we dedicated space to the ubiquitous statins as well as to never-harmful patient-tailored cardiovascular rehabilitation. Please peruse and share your experiences on the pages of the Exploration of Cardiology journal!

Keywords: Alcohol, coronary flow reserve, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left atrium and myocardial hypertrophy, mitral valve prolapse and arrhythmia, psoriasis and atherosclerosis, rehabilitation, statins and inflammation